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Well, I think we have found the first near-masterpiece indie game of 2025. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders takes everything that made Megagon Industries’ first title great and strides forward with a super-polished experience. I’ve managed to play this across several devices for this review: Xbox Series X, Lenovo Legion Go, and even cloud gaming on my mobile phone. It is the perfect game to engage with anywhere you are and with the Xbox play anywhere feature it is available freely once in your personal library too. The addictive nature of just one more run, as you strive for perfection, is ever-present. It’s a game which is a challenge to master but is oh-so-satisfying when you hit courses perfectly. If you’re an Xbox player, you’re in luck since it has been integrated into the Xbox Game Pass library for January 2025. But even at its £20.99 price point, it is well worth every penny for the number of hours you could sink into its slopes.
Sniper Elite Resistance is another worthy entry in the franchise. While the game engine is starting to show its age, it still plays very well and the gameplay is solid; aside from slightly wobbly controls when requiring precise positioning. If you’re played any previous entry in the series, you know what to expect whereas if you never played a Sniper Elite game, Resistance is as a good as any to jump into the series. Fans of shooters should definitely pick up Sniper Elite Resistance; it’s a consistent entry in a solid franchise of shooters.
SlavicPunk: Oldtimer gets the combat and gameplay loop bang on and I had a great time with the overall experience. Unfortunately, it misses the execution of the storyline and immersion with the irritating small text. I could only actually read this by taking a photo on 10x zoom with my phone camera, this is how bad it was on a 55-inch TV. That isn’t to say there isn’t fun to be had here though, it looks and plays fine but can be easily finished in one 4-5 hour session if you hammer through it like I did. For £14.99 though, if you’re into Cyberpunk-esque environments and you’re after a twin-stick shooter with a story that you’re not too fussed about, this one may be for you.
Unfortunately, Star Wars: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is the prime example why not every game should be remastered, let alone considered for the remaster treatment. The combat is archaic and clunky. While I can understand that back in 2000, this was passable and borderline revolutionary, this doesn’t cut it in 2025. This game is clearly for those who hold a fond place in their heart for it. If like me, this would be your first attempt at this game, highly recommend skipping it. There are a bevvy of better beat’em ups available. Never thought playing as Darth Maul would make him such a pathetic weakling.
Swords & Bones 2 is fun and nice diversion from more complex gaming experiences. All you have to do is run through simplistic 50 bite sized levels, earn coins and level up your character. Nothing really complex here. If you played the first game, it’s just more of the same, except level design is slightly less irritating. If you haven’t and looking for a short time killer for some quick Achievements, Swords & Bones 2 is worth the investment.
Super Solitaire is a solid entry into the Xbox store and whilst it is available on mobile and also Nintendo Switch, it is nice to sit and play with a controller to hand. The developers have kept things simple here, with the ability to jump on and just play. If you want to extend the fun then there are harder difficulty levels and also daily challenges. But it is just Solitaire at the end of the day and if you’re a fan then you’ll probably love it.
Candle Knight is a decent Metroidvania style game. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the unique combat adds a unique layer of strategy, albeit it does feel like it holds the game back and it’s a lazy way to avoid opting for a deeper combat system. If you’re a fan of the genre, I’d definitely recommend Candle Knight. If you’re looking to dabble in the genre however, I wouldn’t recommend this as your first experience.
Stunt Paradise is a fun, easy to pick up and play and addictive racer. Races get progressively harder as you progress and some of them even require a bit of back and forth in order to complete the track. My only complaint is that unlockable vehicles feel the same. Other than, if you’re looking for some variety and an easy 3000Gs(!), Stunt Paradise is a must play.
Even if you’re a die hard fan of the genre or classic RE-like experiences, do not waste your money or time with Outbreak: Contagious Memories. While I can certainly appreciate the effort because I’m still a huge fan of the classic survival horror games (the Resident Evils, the Silent Hills and any other similar one offs), but Outbreak: Contagious Memories is borderline unplayable. I’m baffled anyone would find this appropriate to release in this state; it feels like an alpha version. Lots of potential wasted. Easy pass.
While I’m personally getting bored with the remaster/remake fad, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is how a remaster should be done. Aspyr did a great job giving these games a beautiful visual update while keeping the core of the game intact. The combat is solid, the realms navigation adds a unique layer of gameplay. But despite Aspyr’s visual work, lots of areas still remain way too dark; making these levels unplayable if there’s light in the room. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is highly recommended for some 3D action good time. But newcomers, be warned, a guide (if you can find it online) or an online walkthrough is borderline necessary to progress.
New Star GP is a surprisingly deep, incredibly addictive racing game that offers a reasonable mix between arcade and simulation style. Upgrading your ride and maintaining your relationship with your crew offers some interesting gameplay mechanic. However, as with a lot of racing games, it does require a bit of practice given that A.I. racers are out for blood. New Star GP is a must play for all racing fans; new or old.
Rocket Rumble is a decent, varied take on the Super Mario Kart recipe, but it feels pretty shallow as a whole. Solo play is useless and multiplayer matches are fun and incredibly chaotic… and that’s it. Great game for the younger gamer in the family or good for a few multiplayer rounds with friends, but the lack of depth is a disappointment. There’s some potential here but it feels more like a demo than a full game.
Don’t Let Him In is an enjoyable, if not short, psychological horror gaming experience. There’s a lot of potential; loved the PS1 style visuals. This could’ve made a great AAA/grander scale game. It gave me The Chant vibes, but if you ordered from Wish (and a more twisted storyline). It’s hard to recommend due to the bugs and shortness of it, but if you see it on sale, there are worst ways to spend 30 minutes.
The game looks fine. It’s overall very bright and colorful; there’s a decent variety of enemies you’ll encounter throughout the levels. Given it’s an arcade game ported to consoles, it fits the bill. The arcade-y pixels might bring back some nostalgia factor to older gamers. The soundtrack is an enjoyable chiptune, arcade-y soundtrack, however it’s not as classic as the original Bubble Bobble game. Again, annoyingly enough, given it’s a Ratalaika published game, you’ll constantly have to “identify” yourself on your way to reach the game. Once more, Achievements are being restrained behind Arcade Mode; while in all fairness, this isn’t a very difficult game, it’s still annoying and unnecessary. Nothing really wrong with Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III. It’s a cute, simplistic, easy to pick up action platformer and a “by the numbers” arcade game. Also means the gameplay variety is quite limited and unless you like score-based game where you try to beat your personal best each time, there’s not much here. That being said, there are worst ways to spend a few hours and it’s fun little co-op game.
Romancelvania is easily one of the best Metroidvania style games of the last decade. It feels a bit like Castlevania with a dash of humor with its reality TV setting. Thankfully you’re able to explore outside the castle and each area is uniquely designed. While it is annoying not being able to see enemies more often than not, but it doesn’t deter the complete experience. Romancelvania is a must play.
Beyond Hanwell is one of the best survival horror experiences of the year. It features a perfect mix of puzzles and action, the ambiance is unsettling, combat is tight and enjoyable. You’ll be immersed in the world and won’t want to put it down because you’ll want to explore the city and find new buildings to enter. Fans of the genre will savor every instant of this game. Depending on your tolerance for fright, if you’re looking to dip your toes in the genre, Beyond Hanwell is a great, albeit nerve-racking, place to start. Beyond Hanwell is one of the best games of the year.
I can see why Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel was well-received back in the 1990s. The game was surprisingly deep in terms of exploration and gameplay mechanics, but by today’s standards (and multi-buttoned controllers), it feels archaic and held back by the limitations of the time. You’ll waste a lot of time trying to grasp the double jump and flying/gliding mechanics, which is the complete opposite of fun. If the developer (porting studio?) had the opportunity to re-work the initial code to adapt it to today’s standards, this game would’ve scored much higher. As it stands, unless you want to (re)live some of the frustrations us gamers who grew up in the 1990s, this is an easy pass.
As a whole, there’s nothing really wrong with Abathor. It’s a fun, straight forward action platformer. The setting and protagonists does give it a bit of Golden Axe to the game. It does make for a fun co-op experience. While it is annoying to have your gear/upgrades reset when you load the game is pretty stupid, it’s still a fun adventure game. If you’re looking for a simplistic co-op game for the holidays, you can’t go wrong with Abathor.
While there’s nothing overly problematic, Aero The Acro-Bat, port of the 1993 16-bit original, will only appeal to older gamers who played this during their younger times. It shows its age and it’s a product of a different time where games were difficult, borderline frustrating. Gamers familiar with only current generation of consoles will most likely be annoyed or bored within a matter of minutes because of the clunky controls. Unless you need this for nostalgia purposes, it’s an easy pass.
Disaster Band is an enjoyable rhythm based experience that also offer a varied experience in the genre that’s also severely lacking since Activision and Harmonix out Guitar Hero and Rock Band respectively to bed. It’s not perfect and takes a bit of getting used to; but with three difficulty settings, it is sure to challenge all level of gaming skills. The soundtrack is hit or miss depending on your taste, especially if you’re rather rock to famous tunes. Music fans will find a little gem, whereas those wanting a more approachable experience might be turned off.